Early Action Decision: What's the usual timeline?

Hi everyone! I've been considering applying early action to a few schools, but I'm a bit clueless about how the timeline works compared to regular decision. Can someone explain how early action decisions work and when applicants typically find out if they've been accepted, waitlisted, or rejected?

Hello! It's totally normal to feel a bit confused about the early action (EA) timeline, but I'm here to help. To give you a general idea, applying early action involves submitting your college application earlier than the regular decision deadline, usually around November 1st or November 15th, depending on the specific college. Early action decisions, compared to regular decision, are typically released sooner as well, often in mid-December or January.

Here's an outline of the Early Action process:

1. Application deadline: Early action deadlines typically fall on November 1st or November 15th, though some schools may have slightly different deadlines. You'll want to verify the exact date with each college you're interested in.

2. Application review: Once you submit your application, the admissions officers will begin reviewing it. The review process for early action typically takes place during November and the first half of December.

3. Decision release: Early action decisions are usually released in mid-December or January. The specific date varies by college, but most schools aim to notify applicants before the winter holidays. Some schools have a specific date when they release decisions, while others might have a rolling notification process, where decisions are sent out as they are made.

4. Possible outcomes: If you applied early action, you might receive one of the following decisions: Accepted, Deferred, Waitlisted, or Rejected. If you're accepted, you may choose to commit to the school right away, or you can wait until May 1st, which is the National College Decision Day, to make your decision. Keep in mind that early action is non-binding, meaning you're not obligated to attend the college if accepted. If you're deferred or waitlisted, your application will be reconsidered during the regular decision round, and you'll receive a final decision typically by early April. If you're rejected, this means the college will not be admitting you under either early or regular decision rounds.

5. Next steps: After you receive your early action decision(s), you may move forward with your other college applications. If you've been accepted by an EA school and decide to enroll, you can withdraw your regular decision applications. Otherwise, proceed with submitting additional applications before their regular decision deadlines and await the results.

In summary, applying early action means submitting your application by early November, and you'll typically receive a decision in December or January. It's non-binding and allows you more time to make a decision on which college to attend. Good luck!